logo
International hotel, desi guests: 4-star in Dubai serves poha, plays Hindi news channels

International hotel, desi guests: 4-star in Dubai serves poha, plays Hindi news channels

Hindustan Times11-06-2025

Indian viewers have been left much amused by a four-star hotel in Dubai that appears to cater to a predominantly desi audience - to the extent that it serves an array of Indian dishes in the breakfast buffet, offers Hindi news channels on the television, and has IPL pennants in the sports bar.
Even the clock hanging in the hotel gym has a desi touch - it was bought from Big Bazaar.
A video highlighting the Majestic City Retreat Hotel's desi touches was shared on Instagram by stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant. 'When your international hotel is basically Indian,' Pant captioned his video, which opens with a view of the Dubai skyline.
The camera then moves inside to show the Big Bazaar wall clock hanging in the gym. 'Breakfast buffet has poha, Jain poha, 19 parathas, 18 types of rajma, dosas,' says Jain in the voiceover, moving his camera to show the Indian dishes.
The Indianisms do not stop there. Inside the room, guests can watch Hindi language news channels. If they step out to the hotel sports bar, they are greeted with IPL-themed decor.
And last but not least, Indian tourists have no reason to be homesick because the bathroom has not just a bidet but also a jet spray.
A post shared by Sorabh Pant (@sorabhpant)
'Welcome to Majestic City Retreat, your home away from home,' quipped one person in the comments section. 'Tell us you are in Bur Dubai without telling us,' another said with laughing emojis.
Dubai is a very popular destination for Indian tourists, thanks to easy accessibility, inexpensive flights and a huge diaspora population. The Bur Dubai area has a large population of Indians, giving it the unofficial nickname of 'Little India'.
(Also read: Dubai firm vanishes overnight without a trace, Indian investors lose millions: 'Like they never existed')

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kuberaa OTT release: Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna and Nagarjuna Akkineni starrer will debut on THIS streaming giant
Kuberaa OTT release: Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna and Nagarjuna Akkineni starrer will debut on THIS streaming giant

Mint

timean hour ago

  • Mint

Kuberaa OTT release: Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna and Nagarjuna Akkineni starrer will debut on THIS streaming giant

Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna and Nagarjuna Akkineni starrer 'Kuberaa' hit the big screens on Friday, June 20. Released in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil, its OTT release is in wide discussion since its strong theatrical debut. Directed by Sekhar Kammula of 'Fidaa' fame, the film is produced by Sree Venkateswara Cinemas and Amigos Creations. Featuring a runtime of 182 Mins, this social-themed depicts intense storyline and is packed with powerhouse performances. 'Kuberaa' has bagged a huge OTT deal as streaming giant Amazon Prime Video bought the digital streaming rights of the film reportedly for ₹ 50 crore, OTT play reported. Marking the biggest deal for Dhanush and Nagarjuna, the pan-Indian social thriller is making waves at the box office. Although no confirmation about its release date is available yet, 'Kuberaa' will reportedly be released on OTT platform within a month of its theatrical release. According to a key member of the film crew, the film will be released in the third week of July 2025. The Tollywood movie opened to a massive ₹ 14.75 crore net in India, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. The movie witnessed 19.39 percent spike in its earnings on the second day in theatres and minted ₹ 17.61 crore net on Saturday, June 21. Telugu screenings are driving its earnings and domestic box office collection after two day run stands at ₹ 32.36 crore net. Kuberaa's star cast also features Jim Sarbh and Dalip Tahil in pivotal roles. The filmmakers in a post on X claimed that the movie did a business of ₹ 30 crore gross worldwide on Day 1. The post states, " ₹ 30 Cr+ Day 1 worldwide gross (estimated). This is just the beginning of a rage that's set to ignite the box office in the days to come."

Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business
Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business

Economic Times

timean hour ago

  • Economic Times

Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business

Agencies When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business 'Today, if you have a product that can make people go 'awww', you have won,' says Vaishak, founder of The Seraphim Store in Bengaluru, which deals in sneakers, streetwear and all things hype. His current drop are a few boxes of the viral Pop Mart doll, Labubu, which is making everyone go 'aww' or 'eww', depending on which end of the ugly-cute fence you are on. Vaishak, who scores his merch mostly from Malaysia, says the blind boxes—so called because you will know the version of the doll you get only when you open the package—are spoken for even before they land. The price of the plush toy monsters starts at Rs 5,000, while special editions come for Rs 15,000. Vaishak is certain cute is serious business. It sure is. Since mid-2024, Labubus—created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung and manufactured by the Chinese toy company Pop Mart—have had the world in its chokehold. Everyone from Lisa of K-pop band Blackpink, who started the frenzy, to singer Rihanna to actor Ananya Pandey has been spotted with Labubus hitched to their luxury handbags. It is now the No. 1 collectibles release on the online resale platform StockX, selling for Rs 18,000. Labubu has also propelled Wang Ning, founder of Pop Mart, into the billionaires' club of China, one of the youngest to get there. FUN IS IN Fashion and design are intrinsically linked to nostalgia, childhood memories and elements of fun, says Aneeth Arora, founder and designer of Pero, an Indian brand which, journalist Namrata Zakaria says, brings playfulness and childlike influences into mainstream fashion. Last year, Arora worked with the Japanese company Sanrio's Hello Kitty brand to create a collection that was Indian in its craft but kawaii (Japanese term, loosely translating to cute) in its execution. Arora believes in the lasting power of cute: 'Fun and play have been in our DNA. We have worked with themes like dolls, collaborated with Barbapapa [title character of a French children's book] and now Hello Kitty. Labubu might be a microtrend but the whole idea of nostalgia and fun via fashion is not. Unlike Labubu, Hello Kitty is not a microtrend. It has been around since 1974.'Even so, the current love for cute—as evinced by #charmcore, #plushiecore and #toycore—has baffled fashion watchers. By its very nature, 'cute' suggests immaturity or lack of depth, making it a four-letter word in fashion. But people are clicking on cute. Fashion writer Sujata Assomull says, 'In uncertain times, there's a deep emotional pull toward things that feel light, nostalgic and comforting. Cuteness is a gentle escape—it's not too serious, and in that way, it becomes emotionally relevant.' Since the pandemic, microtrends have become the norm. Besides Labubus, Jellycat is the fastest sell-ing toy brand at the high-end department store chain Selfridges in the UK. Other Pop Mart blind-box toys like Crybaby and Hirono are also gaining Shetty, designer & cofounder of Huemn, says 'cuteness' is here to stay till we see a safer and more balanced political and economic climate. She adds, 'Fashion has always been a response to cultural cues—and we live in very chaotic times. It has made us desensitised. This microtrend is the biggest example of a deeply emotional response.'A Vogue Business article says the reasons toys are having a moment in 2025 are manifold: people are seeking comfort, a connection to a simpler time, they are 'affordable luxury', and these 'kidult' collectibles help adults express their personality. Agrees Shetty: 'Digital culture is accelerating these microtrends. But I believe that if it's everywhere, it's already over. This is why Labubu doesn't appeal to me, even though I'm finding joy in this trend.' Shetty, who was in Tokyo last month, went for other toys like Smiski and professional Amrita Chhabria confesses to leaning onto cute trinkets—usually picked from Miniso—as quick comforters to deal with daily stress caused by family members being in and out of hospital. Sarifluencer Ashwini Narayan pairs charms and toys with her bags as reminders of old trips. Delhi-based visual designer Soumya Marhual, 28, makes her own charms. She says, 'Owning things like this gives you a false sense of control that you are curating your life, that you are actively making choices.'It could also be a way to engage playfully with fashion. Jatin Varma, founder of Comic Con India, says, 'After Lisa was spotted with Labubu, shelves filled up overnight, resellers priced it like limited-edition sneakers and people started dropping words like 'collector' and 'fan' as if they had grown up with it. It was fascinating to see the speed at which something can go from niche to status symbol—not because of story, not because of meaning, but because it entered the right frame, in the right photo, with the right person.' Varma says, 'We have reached a point where people don't want to join culture. They want to skip straight to owning the symbol of it.' DOLL'S PARTY But for brands there's no set playbook to go by. Assomull says if a brand doesn't already have a playful or quirky side, forcing cuteness can backfire. Vivita Relan, cofounder of the whimsical ceramics brand The Wishing Chair, has been riding the cute wave since 2012. She says the line between whimsical and childish is paper-thin. Brands can strike the right balance with intent and execution. She says, 'We use playful silhouettes, but ground them in well-made artistry. Also, cuteness isn't about making an exact design replica of something from your childhood, but about evoking that feeling.' Arora agrees. She says 'cute' without solid workmanship is says this trend is evolving into 'recession luxury' where tactile, playful aesthetics serve as a psychological balm and a business tool. Assomull calls it 'emotional luxury'. 'Perhaps we have reached a saturation point with product-driven luxury: one It-bag after another. People are now craving emotion, tactility and joy,' she Bhavisha Dave, cofounder of streetwear store Capsul, which was selling Labubus last year along with other collectibles like Kaws, Be@rbrick and Hirono, says the Labubu craze signals trends are now more Asia-focused. 'Earlier, people travelled more to Europe or US; now they visit Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan, where collectible culture is a lifestyle.'Labubus are not a work of luck, she says. 'Pop Mart has been in the business of selling collectibles for a while. They understand the hype mindset— scarcity, blind box, collectible. They know how to sustain this frenzy.'Zakaria is enjoying the craze: 'I think it's a fun accessory that gives a little whimsy to an overpriced, snobby handbag.' The blind box means you can buy a Labubu but you take what you get. She says, 'It's like you can't choose a Labubu, it chooses you. Sounds like Hermes, no?'

Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business
Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Labubu effect: When cuteness becomes a billion-dollar business

'Today, if you have a product that can make people go 'awww', you have won,' says Vaishak, founder of The Seraphim Store in Bengaluru, which deals in sneakers, streetwear and all things hype. His current drop are a few boxes of the viral Pop Mart doll, Labubu , which is making everyone go 'aww' or 'eww', depending on which end of the ugly-cute fence you are on. Vaishak, who scores his merch mostly from Malaysia, says the blind boxes—so called because you will know the version of the doll you get only when you open the package—are spoken for even before they land. The price of the plush toy monsters starts at Rs 5,000, while special editions come for Rs 15,000. Vaishak is certain cute is serious business. It sure is. Since mid-2024, Labubus—created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung and manufactured by the Chinese toy company Pop Mart—have had the world in its chokehold. Everyone from Lisa of K-pop band Blackpink, who started the frenzy, to singer Rihanna to actor Ananya Pandey has been spotted with Labubus hitched to their luxury handbags. It is now the No. 1 collectibles release on the online resale platform StockX, selling for Rs 18,000. Labubu has also propelled Wang Ning, founder of Pop Mart, into the billionaires' club of China, one of the youngest to get there. FUN IS IN Fashion and design are intrinsically linked to nostalgia, childhood memories and elements of fun, says Aneeth Arora, founder and designer of Pero, an Indian brand which, journalist Namrata Zakaria says, brings playfulness and childlike influences into mainstream fashion. Last year, Arora worked with the Japanese company Sanrio's Hello Kitty brand to create a collection that was Indian in its craft but kawaii (Japanese term, loosely translating to cute) in its execution. Arora believes in the lasting power of cute: 'Fun and play have been in our DNA. We have worked with themes like dolls, collaborated with Barbapapa [title character of a French children's book] and now Hello Kitty. Labubu might be a microtrend but the whole idea of nostalgia and fun via fashion is not. Unlike Labubu, Hello Kitty is not a microtrend. It has been around since 1974.' Even so, the current love for cute—as evinced by #charmcore, #plushiecore and #toycore—has baffled fashion watchers. By its very nature, 'cute' suggests immaturity or lack of depth, making it a four-letter word in fashion. But people are clicking on cute. Fashion writer Sujata Assomull says, 'In uncertain times, there's a deep emotional pull toward things that feel light, nostalgic and comforting. Cuteness is a gentle escape—it's not too serious, and in that way, it becomes emotionally relevant.' Live Events Since the pandemic, microtrends have become the norm. Besides Labubus, Jellycat is the fastest sell-ing toy brand at the high-end department store chain Selfridges in the UK. Other Pop Mart blind-box toys like Crybaby and Hirono are also gaining popularity. Shyma Shetty, designer & cofounder of Huemn, says 'cuteness' is here to stay till we see a safer and more balanced political and economic climate. She adds, 'Fashion has always been a response to cultural cues—and we live in very chaotic times. It has made us desensitised. This microtrend is the biggest example of a deeply emotional response.' A Vogue Business article says the reasons toys are having a moment in 2025 are manifold: people are seeking comfort, a connection to a simpler time, they are 'affordable luxury', and these 'kidult' collectibles help adults express their personality. Agrees Shetty: 'Digital culture is accelerating these microtrends. But I believe that if it's everywhere, it's already over. This is why Labubu doesn't appeal to me, even though I'm finding joy in this trend.' Shetty, who was in Tokyo last month, went for other toys like Smiski and Fugglers. Marketing professional Amrita Chhabria confesses to leaning onto cute trinkets—usually picked from Miniso—as quick comforters to deal with daily stress caused by family members being in and out of hospital. Sarifluencer Ashwini Narayan pairs charms and toys with her bags as reminders of old trips. Delhi-based visual designer Soumya Marhual, 28, makes her own charms. She says, 'Owning things like this gives you a false sense of control that you are curating your life, that you are actively making choices.' It could also be a way to engage playfully with fashion. Jatin Varma, founder of Comic Con India, says, 'After Lisa was spotted with Labubu, shelves filled up overnight, resellers priced it like limited-edition sneakers and people started dropping words like 'collector' and 'fan' as if they had grown up with it. It was fascinating to see the speed at which something can go from niche to status symbol—not because of story, not because of meaning, but because it entered the right frame, in the right photo, with the right person.' Varma says, 'We have reached a point where people don't want to join culture. They want to skip straight to owning the symbol of it.' DOLL'S PARTY But for brands there's no set playbook to go by. Assomull says if a brand doesn't already have a playful or quirky side, forcing cuteness can backfire. Vivita Relan, cofounder of the whimsical ceramics brand The Wishing Chair, has been riding the cute wave since 2012. She says the line between whimsical and childish is paper-thin. Brands can strike the right balance with intent and execution. She says, 'We use playful silhouettes, but ground them in well-made artistry. Also, cuteness isn't about making an exact design replica of something from your childhood, but about evoking that feeling.' Arora agrees. She says 'cute' without solid workmanship is hollow. Shetty says this trend is evolving into 'recession luxury' where tactile, playful aesthetics serve as a psychological balm and a business tool. Assomull calls it 'emotional luxury'. 'Perhaps we have reached a saturation point with product-driven luxury: one It-bag after another. People are now craving emotion, tactility and joy,' she says. Bengaluru-based Bhavisha Dave, cofounder of streetwear store Capsul, which was selling Labubus last year along with other collectibles like Kaws, Be@rbrick and Hirono, says the Labubu craze signals trends are now more Asia-focused. 'Earlier, people travelled more to Europe or US; now they visit Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore or Japan, where collectible culture is a lifestyle.' Labubus are not a work of luck, she says. 'Pop Mart has been in the business of selling collectibles for a while. They understand the hype mindset— scarcity, blind box, collectible. They know how to sustain this frenzy.' Zakaria is enjoying the craze: 'I think it's a fun accessory that gives a little whimsy to an overpriced, snobby handbag.' The blind box means you can buy a Labubu but you take what you get. She says, 'It's like you can't choose a Labubu, it chooses you. Sounds like Hermes, no?'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store